Munster expands pre-AP pathway; district reports large PSAT gains

Assistant Superintendent Colleen Bergner told the School Town of Munster Board of School Trustees on the high‑ability presentation that the district revised course sequencing to compress standards and expand access to pre‑AP coursework from middle school into the high school.

Bergner said the district compressed third‑ and fourth‑grade math standards so students identified after second grade do not “skip a whole year of math,” and that the middle school compacted sixth and seventh grade standards into a double‑blocked course for students identified at the end of fifth grade. She described a pathway that places pre‑AP algebra and geometry earlier so students can reach AP‑level courses in high school.

The presentation tied the curriculum changes to enrollment and achievement measures. Bergner showed that pre‑AP courses moved from being offered mainly at middle school to expanded high‑school offerings, and she reported low second‑term drop rates in most pre‑AP classes this year compared with 2023–24. She said, “high ability doesn't always equal high achieving,” and explained the district uses compacting and supports so students with potential can catch up to grade‑level standards.

Bergner presented PSAT mean increases she attributed in part to broadened pre‑AP access: she reported double‑digit mean gains across cohorts, including a reported 41‑point increase and a 35‑point increase in math for one recent cohort and smaller but consistent increases in other grades. She credited the curriculum mapping and teachers' work while cautioning the district will continue to monitor outcomes.

Board members asked about logistics for filling accelerated classes, the size of cohorts and the criteria used for “double‑jump” placements. Bergner and other staff said teachers perform score analyses and sometimes additional assessments before recommending acceleration; one board member said the district expects roughly a full class (about 30) in some newly identified sixth‑grade high‑ability sections. Bergner said the district will continue to refine indicators and monitor who drops courses, calling longitudinal data analysis a next step.

The high school plans to add AP Seminar (slotted for 10th grade) and to keep AP English in 11th and 12th grades, while shifting pre‑AP material earlier. The district also plans to continue professional learning for teachers and to expand the pre‑AP framework into Wilbur Wright Middle School where appropriate. Bergner said staff will continue to “progress monitor student achievement” and refine placement indicators as more longitudinal data become available.

Why it matters: the changes increase access to college‑level sequences earlier in students’ records, potentially affecting AP participation and college‑readiness metrics that admissions offices consider. Bergner stressed ongoing monitoring and teacher training as the district expands access.

Sources and direct quotes used in this report are drawn from Bergner’s presentation and the board discussion at the meeting.